Chapter 3 Decision Support Model (IUWS-DSM) - Tubdok

Chapter 4 · Discussion and Conclusion 93
Regarding the social movements, its mutual influence with water usage is more obscure,
which is difficult to be described numerically. A multi-disciplinary working group needs to be
set up including engineers, sociologists and politicians. As it is the complicated and valuable
topic, an independent research project is recommended.
Table 36: Uncertainty of water usage along with city vicissitudes
no. causes affects
city development
1 new developing area:
development does
not follow master plan
2 existing area:
change of area use
3 existing area:
re-construction or
re-function
4 rise-up of
living standards
5 innovation of water
fixtures in households
6 innovated techniques
in industries
climate change
7 variation of rainfall
patterns
If it is located at the remote end of the water networks, and water
demand is amplified significantly, networks may not content all
end-users in certain conditions.
Water demand can be thereby dramatically increased or
decreased.
Variation of water end-users (in the sense of both types and
sizes) can significantly change the water usage profiles.
Higher living standards usually imply higher water consumption,
but it is not inevitable.
Application of water saving fixtures can remarkably reduce water
consumption, which is the tendency.
It can reduce the consumption of processing water notably.
Water cycle can performed inside factories, as well.
E.g. oftener enlarged storm events fail drain systems.
E.g. less rainfall or more uneven rainfall distribution reduces the
availability of roof-water.
8 season changes E.g. longer drought summer can cause more water consumption.
9 temperature change E.g. higher daily temperature can increase water consumption.
social movements
10 awareness of environmental
protection
Better personal habits can reduce water consumption
significantly.
11 use of price lever Water price and water demand have the non-linear relation, e.g.
Thompson (1999), p.146.
12 shift of religion E.g. giving possibility of using reclaimed water results in the
reduction of total water withdrawal.
4.4 Improvement of the IUWS-DSM
Urban water systems have the huge scopes covering different topics and issues. The
IUWS-DSM provides the initial functions for planning the IUWS. The following aspects can
be considered in order to further develop the IUWS-DSM.
GIS is another very powerful tool to plan, design, operate and control urban water
systems (Shamsi 2005). It is therefore suggested connecting the IUWS-DSM to GIS.